Wick Academy will be ‘looking upwards’ in next Highland League campaign
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Manager Gary Manson insists Wick Academy will be “looking upwards” next season after rounding off their 2023/24 Highland League campaign with an impressive 4-0 away win against Keith.
Saturday’s result at Kynoch Park allowed the Scorries to climb above the Maroons into 12th place in the final table, one point behind Rothes in 11th.
“It was a good way to finish,” Manson. “It’s no secret that our away form has not been very good, so to stick a win like that on the board in the last game was just reward for the boys’ efforts in the second half of the season.
“It could have been six or seven and that wouldn’t have flattered us. It was a really good performance.
“It just goes to prove that not just in the league standings but in ability and performance levels we’re ahead of the teams below us in the league. We need to set our sights higher than where we finished this year.
“That’ll be the target next year – we’ll be looking upwards rather than downwards.”
With 36 points (10 wins and six draws) from 34 games, Academy ended up four places higher than last season and 10 points better off.
Manson said: “Twelfth place is never where you aim to finish at the start of a season. You always aim for higher – but considering our start to the season, considering how many new players we’ve had to bed in and to settle into the squad, then 12th place is a respectable place to finish.
“We’ll take it and we’ll move on and try to aim a bit higher next season.”
Marc Macgregor opened the scoring with five minutes gone and Ross Gunn rifled home the second 10 minutes from half-time.
Keith’s Craig Gill was red-carded on 75 minutes after his elbow appeared to catch Gunn in the face. From the resultant free kick, Owen Harrold turned the ball into the net from six yards.
Kyle Henderson struck the fourth with seven minutes remaining.
Manson added: “The most pleasing factor for me really is the togetherness and the team spirit that the boys have now. It has taken us a long way.
“We had to put together a brand new squad last summer and it has obviously taken time for them to settle in and get used to each other. But honestly it has been a long, long time since I’ve seen a team spirit and a togetherness in a Wick changing room like we have just now.
“It’s really good to see and it’s testament to the boys.”
Brora Rangers rounded off their season with a 4-2 victory over Turriff United at King George V Park in Golspie.
